“I Started Smoking In JSS3, Hit Two Packs A Day In University” — Ebuka Opens Up on Addiction

Nigerian media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up about his past struggle with smoking addiction, revealing that he began smoking in Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) and heavily consumed up to two packs of cigarettes a day during his university years.

He disclosed this information during an episode of his podcast, ‘MENtality with Ebuka’, alongside co-host Banky W and health influencer, Aproko Doctor.

The media personality, in his words, said, “I started smoking in JSS3. It was something that began casually, but over time it became a habit I couldn’t easily control.” He further expressed how this routine became part of his lifestyle, even though he knew it was harmful.

He had to take deliberate steps to quit the habit, and he was intentional about it. He noted that his last cigarette was in 2008, a day before Ash Wednesday.

During the episode, the hosts discussed how many addictions stem from trying to escape emotional pain or chase pleasure.

If there is anything I would say to younger people, it is that habits mature early, and you must be very careful what you normalise, he concluded.